Modena defeated Vicenza 2-1 at the Stadio Romeo Menti on October 27, 2026, sealing the victory in the 89th minute through a decisive goal by Giuseppe Ambrosino. The result propelled the visitors into sole possession of second place in the Serie B standings, while leaving the hosts to rue costly defensive lapses after controlling long stretches of the fixture in this mid-week round of fixtures. The match drew 600 visiting supporters as the away section reached a sold-out status, with the club celebrating its fourth victory in the last five matches during the ninth round of the season—marking the division’s first mid-week fixture.
Ambrosino Strikes Late to Silence Stadio Romeo Menti
Giuseppe Ambrosino settled the contest in the 89th minute by capitalizing on a lapse in concentration from Vicenza midfielder Michele Zonta. After intercepting a loose ball in the defensive third, Ambrosino beat defender Nicola Brighenti with a sharp double move before driving a low shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Alessandro Gagno. The strike silenced the home crowd and handed Modena their fourth victory in five matches, lifting Daniele Galloppa’s side to 19 points in the table, three behind league leaders Palermo.
According to reports from Corriere del Veneto, the manner of the defeat proved particularly painful for the hosts. Vicenza had matched their opponents in intensity and spent extended periods pressing the visitors’ backline. However, defensive mistakes ultimately undid their efforts, ending their run of positive momentum following a previous away win against Empoli.
Early Goals Set a Frantic Pace in Veneto
The match began with high tempo as the home side took the initiative. In the 14th minute, midfielder Alessandro Bellemo drove toward the penalty area and unleashed a shot that took a heavy deflection off Modena defender Jannes Nieling, wrong-footing goalkeeper Nahuel Chichizola to break the deadlock. The advantage lasted only two minutes. Modena responded swiftly in the 16th minute when central striker Andrea Belotti exchanged passes with Mattia Caso inside the box before slotting past Gagno to restore parity.
The equalizer marked Belotti’s sixth goal in as many matches for the gialloblù, continuing his prolific scoring run following a recent derby brace against Cesena. Both sides traded scoring opportunities through the remainder of the first half, with Vicenza’s Mattia Valoti testing Chichizola from distance and Gagno denying Ambrosino on a swift counterattack just before the interval.
Defensive Vulnerabilities Seal Vicenza’s Fate After the Break
The second half brought sustained pressure from the emiliani, who gradually pinned Vicenza deep into their own half. The home defense nearly cracked early in the restart when a risky backpass from Davide Papetti forced Gagno into a desperate goal-line clearance in the 49th minute. Modena manager Galloppa was forced into early tactical adjustments following muscular injuries to both Facundo Zampano and Mattia Caso.
As fatigue set in for Fabio Gallo’s side, the visitors increased their territorial dominance. Gagno intervened on multiple occasions, notably rushing off his line in the 63rd minute to thwart an advancing opponent. Yet, the persistent pressure eventually yielded dividends in the final moments. Following the late winner, Vicenza threw players forward in search of an equalizer during four minutes of stoppage time, but the Modena defense held firm to secure the three points.
Match Lineups and Officials
Vicenza lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Alessandro Gagno in goal; a defensive trio of Davide Papetti, Nicola Brighenti, and Marco Marchizza; Caferri, Alessandro Bellemo, Pellizzari (71′ Michele Zonta), and Corazza (84′ Sandon) across the midfield; Mattia Valoti (24′ Alessio) supporting the attack; and a forward pairing of Rauti and Merkaj (71′ Morra). Fabio Gallo’s available substitutes were Bagheria, Tantalocchi, Costa, Leverbe, Vescovi, Carraro, Pietrelli, Rada, Talarico, and Moncini.
Modena deployed a 4-2-3-1 setup featuring Nahuel Chichizola between the posts; a backline of Zampano (36′ Imputato), Nador, Folino, and Jannes Nieling; central midfielders Bianco and Santoro; Olzer (88′ Bozhanaj), Giuseppe Ambrosino, and Caso (55′ Brugman) in the attacking midfield roles; with Andrea Belotti (88′ Montevago) spearheading the attack. Daniele Galloppa kept Consiglio, Laidani, Adorni, Egharevba, Odero, Acquah, and Bacchin on the bench. The match was officiated by referee Perenzoni of Rovereto, assisted by linesmen Vecchi and Garzelli, fourth official Diop, with Maggioni serving as VAR and Meraviglia as AVAR.
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